OUR TEAM

LEADING THROUGH RESILIENCE

At Black Oaks Center, our leadership is rooted in lived experience and fueled by an unwavering commitment to our communities thriving in the face of economic hardship, climate instability, and resource decline.

LEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE

Our team members are more than just stewards of the land—we are visionaries working to reshape the future of food security, land sovereignty, and environmental justice. With decades of collective experience in sustainable farming, ecological living, and policy advocacy, we bring practical solutions to the pressing challenges facing Black farmers and rural communities.

A NETWORK OF CHANGEMAKERS

Beyond our core leadership, Black Oaks Center is strengthened by a growing network of local farmers, scholars, environmentalists, and community leaders who share our mission. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, we are creating pathways for the next generation of land stewards, ensuring that Black-owned farmland thrives for years to come.

GUIDED BY RESILIENCE AND ACTION

We believe resilience is built through action. Our team works on the ground, training new farmers, advocating for equitable policies, and developing innovative solutions to sustain both people and the planet. We don’t just teach sustainability—we live it.

LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

At Black Oaks Center, our leadership brings together lived experience, professional expertise, and a deep commitment to building resilient, sustainable communities.

CO-FOUNDERS

Dr. Jifunza Wright-Carter – President

Dr. Wright-Carter co-founded Black Oaks Center, bringing her expertise in holistic health and community resilience to the forefront of our initiatives. A family physician and community health practitioner, Dr. Wright has spent decades prescribing food as medicine, which led her to regenerative, ecological farming. For 14 years she has spearheaded efforts to bring nutrient-dense foods to high-need communities in Chicagoland, including Southern Cook. She is seasoned in plant-based, therapeutic foods and has studied Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, African Healing Systems, herbalism, Macrobiotics, the energetics of food, and raw food preparation. Her family medicine practice, combined with natural healing systems, is woven into her role as a farmer stewarding whole-system health for all life.

Fred Carter – Co-Founder & Executive Director

As co-founder and executive director, Fred Carter leads the strategic vision of Black Oaks Center, focusing on sustainable practices, environmental advocacy, and organizational growth.

Akin Carter – Co-Founder & Farm Manager

Akin Carter manages farm operations, supporting the mission of building food sovereignty through ecological farming practices.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Rachel Lindsey – Board Chair & Resilience Tract Council

Dr. Lindsey chairs the board and contributes expertise in resilience planning and community development.

Dr. Pancho McFarlane – Board Secretary & Sustainable Agriculture Tract

Serving as secretary, Dr. McFarlane also leads sustainable agriculture initiatives, promoting food sovereignty and ecological farming methods.

Dr. Osei David Andrews-Hutchinson – Sustainable Agriculture Tract Council

Dr. Andrews-Hutchinson supports sustainable agriculture efforts, emphasizing the integration of traditional knowledge with modern practices.

Athena Gore – Resilience Tract Council

Ms. Gore contributes to resilience programs, strengthening community networks and adaptive strategies.

Dr. Kim Dulaney – Treasurer & Resilience Tract Council

As treasurer, Dr. Dulaney oversees financial health while supporting resilience-building initiatives.

Ramona Westbrook – BOC Farm Production Team

Ms. Westbrook is integral to the farm production team, implementing sustainable farming techniques that support community food security.

FARM PRODUCTION TEAM

Our dedicated farm production team works tirelessly to implement sustainable farming techniques that align with our mission of promoting food sovereignty and environmental stewardship.

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BLACK
OAKS
CENTER

OUR TEAM

LEADING THROUGH RESILIENCE

LEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE

A NETWORK OF CHANGEMAKERS

GUIDED BY RESILIENCE AND ACTION

LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

CO-FOUNDERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FARM PRODUCTION TEAM

BLACK
OAKS
CENTER

TAKE ACTION

STAY CONNECTED

BLACK OAKS CENTER

OUR TEAM

LEADING THROUGH RESILIENCE

LEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE

A NETWORK OF CHANGEMAKERS

GUIDED BY RESILIENCE AND ACTION

LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

CO-FOUNDERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FARM PRODUCTION TEAM

BLACK OAKS CENTER

TAKE ACTION

STAY CONNECTED

BLACK
OAKS
CENTER

BLACK
OAKS
CENTER